Convio Wins "Standard of Excellence" Awards for Planned Parenthood and Theater Web Sites

Web Marketing Association Honors Convio's Work with Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas, Also Alley Theatre of Houston

(Austin, TX, December 4, 2001) Convio today announced that it has won two Standard of Excellence awards from the Web Marketing Association for its work with Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas, and also with the Alley Theatre of Houston. Convio is the foremost provider of integrated software that enables nonprofits to efficiently use the Internet to communicate and build relationships with constituents - key for developing and sustaining a loyal, involved base of supporters who contribute funding and participate in advocacy as well as other mission-critical activities.

The Web Marketing Association (WMA), based in Boston, was founded in 1997 to help set a high standard for Internet marketing and corporate Web site development. The association produces the WebAwards, an annual awards competition that judges Web sites in 80 categories on seven criteria including design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity, navigation and ease of use. For the 2001 competition, the association reviewed more than 800 nominations. Winners include a number of the nation's leading nonprofit organizations (see list below).

"The two award-winning, Convio-powered Web sites are good examples of what today's nonprofits can and should do to leverage the power of the Internet in support of their missions," said Vinay Bhagat, founder and CEO of Convio. "Using Convio, both Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas and the Alley Theatre have created engaging, dynamic Web sites that enable them to efficiently build and sustain relationships with supporters, particularly donors. They are successfully integrating online and offline marketing activities to help build a strong and loyal supporter base."

Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas (http://www.pphouston.org/) is one of the largest affiliates of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and was among the first chapters to have a Web site when it went online in 1994. Recognizing the need for a new look and up-to-date technology, the Houston group went live with its Convio-powered Web site in April 2001 and uses it primarily for educational purposes, communicating with the public about the availability of health services, and also for advocacy and fundraising.

A recent online advocacy campaign urging federal legislators to support the Family Planning State Empowerment Act (S. 1343 and HR2777) prompted supporters to email nearly 300 letters to Congress. When protestors threatened a local clinic's fundraising event, the group used the Web site's personalized email engine to solicit pledges and, overnight, raised $4000, offsetting protestors' disruption of the event. In recent weeks, Planned Parenthood of Houston has used its homepage to keep constituents informed of breaking news and has just emailed its inaugural e-newsletter to the more than 2,000 registered site users.

"We're proud of the new look of the Web site and features making it easier to keep our constituents updated on our latest issues," said Peter Durkin, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas. "We are also pleased that students, parents professionals can sign up on the Web for our educational seminars, and we're very happy with the increasing information we can offer in Spanish."

Recipient of a Special Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, the Alley Theatre (http://www.alleytheatre.org/) is one of the nation's most innovative and visible professional resident theater companies. This summer, after a June tropical storm flooded the facility and also knocked out the power, phones and information systems, the Alley Theatre relied heavily on its Convio-powered Web site -- hosted in an unaffected, secure facility -- to keep patrons informed about scheduling changes and plans for clean-up, repair and recovery. The theater also waged a viral email fundraising campaign targeting its nearly 2,000 registered Web site users and raised more than $6,000 online in a matter of days.

"We are very pleased that our new Web site has achieved this acclaim," said Andrew Huang, Alley Theatre marketing director. "The Convio product allows our talented staff to focus on creating interesting content and stunning graphics to communicate to our patrons. It was a relief to have the capability to accept donations online and update the Alley site from our homes when Tropical Storm Allison interrupted power in our facility. We now look forward to taking our site to the next level."

Other nonprofit organizations with Web sites recognized by the 2001 WMA awards include: Bay Area Rapid Transit, The Juilliard School, New York City Ballet, Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs, San Diego Museum of Art, Cleveland Public Library, School of Arts and Sciences at Columbia University, Rhode Island School of Design, Bryn Mawr College, University of Maryland, The Official U.S. Government Site for Medicare Information, Consumer Electronics Association, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Pediatrics, Greater Houston Community Foundation, Epilepsy Foundation and the United States Golf Association Catalog.

About Convio

Founded in 1999, Austin-based Convio is the foremost provider of integrated software that enables nonprofits to efficiently use the Internet for building strong constituent relationships - key for fundraising, advocacy effectiveness and other mission-critical activities. Convio's nine modules delivered over the Internet empower organizations to: communicate often with supporters through email; wage fundraising, membership and advocacy campaigns; publish personalized and dynamic Web content; manage registrations, RSVPs, ticket sales and other event logistics; tap volunteers and their personal networks for campaigns; track constituent interactions; connect online systems to off-line donor databases; and more. Convio's technology platform automatically shares data among the suite's modules, giving administrators a unified view of each constituent's interests so staff can engage in more personalized, and targeted marketing. Convio also provides Internet marketing consulting services to help nonprofits adopt online marketing best practices.

Convio serves national and regional organizations in all segments of the nonprofit sector including advocacy, associations, disease and disorder, education, healthcare, human services, political campaigns, public broadcasting, museums and other visitation facilities. Clients include Planned Parenthood Federation of America, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and The National Foundation for Cancer Research.